Pete Price: I was starstruck at Epstein play

JUST who was Brian Epstein? I met him only once at a party in Belgrave, London, in the days when gay men drank large gin and tonics with their coats draped on their shoulders, and spoke using their own language called ‘palary’ and did a lot of mincing.

JUST who was Brian Epstein? I met him only once at a party in Belgrave, London, in the days when gay men drank large gin and tonics with their coats draped on their shoulders, and spoke using their own language called ‘palary’ and did a lot of mincing.

If they smoked they would use a cigarette holder.

I was curious to see the play which had its world premiere at the Epstein Theatre. It was called Epstein – the Man Who Made the Beatles.

Sadly he died at the age of 32. I loved the performance by my dear friend Andrew Lancel, who played Brian. His portrayal was amazing. He captured the tormented soul who had so much power and success, yet was not a happy man.

Will Finlason graced the stage with Andrew playing a young man who guides us through the story. He gave a great performance _ remember his name.

If this play wasn’t enough, I had a surreal experience on the night. I was sitting next to Cilla Black’s best friend Peter Brown, Brian Epstein’s Personal Assistant and also PA to the Beatles in the 60s. He lives in New York and is incredibly successful.

Sadly he was in Liverpool for his brother’s funeral but wanted to come and see the play.

While I watched this piece of theatre, my mind was racing, wondering what he was thinking as he must have known most of Brian’s secrets. Peter was witness at Paul and Linda’s wedding, best man at John and Yoko’s do, he co-wrote a book about the Fab Four, John Lennon mentioned him in a song and I’m sitting next to him.

I asked him what he thought of Epstein, he loved Andrew’s portrayal of his dear departed friend. I’m still pinching myself. The play finishes on December 1.

Send a story

Advertising Department

Trinity Mirror Merseyside, the Echo's parent company, is one of the North West’s largest multimedia providers reaching more than 900,000 adults every month.

The Liverpool Echo, Trinity Mirror Merseyside’s flagship brand, is the area’s best-read newspaper including national newspapers.

The Liverpool Echo reaches 1 in 3 people in the area with a daily readership of more than 256,000* people.The Liverpool Echo website reaches 1.5 million unique users each month who look at around 8.5 million pages**.

The Editor

Alastair Machray

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.